Copperhead snakes are some of the most commonly encountered venomous snakes in North America. They are responsible for more bites in the U.S. than any other snake species, but bites are rarely fatal.
Copperhead snakes (Agkistrodon contortix) range from the Florida panhandle, north to Massachusetts and west to Nebraska. There are five subspecies of copperheads, which are named after their reddish-brown heads. While North American copperheads make up their own species, several types of snakes are colloquially referred to as copperheads, including cottonmouth snakes (Agkistrodon piscivorus), radiated rat snakes (Coelognathus radiata), lowland copperheads (Austrelaps superbus) and sharp-nosed pit vipers (Deinagkistrodon acutus).
